Microplastics causing Mussels to lose their grip

Microplastics causing Mussels to lose their grip

A new study shows that microplasticsare affecting the ability of mussels to attach themselves to their surroundings.

This will cause a devastating impact on ocean ecosystems as well as a worldwide industry worth between 3-4 billion US dollars per year.

The new research, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, was led by Dr Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University, and was carried out at the Portaferry Marine Laboratory in Northern Ireland.

The researchers found that blue mussels exposed to doses of non-biodegradable microplastics over a period of 52 days produced significantly fewer byssal threads, which are thin fibres that help mussels attach themselves to rocks and ropes.